Bryden (22), Ella (20) and Jane (18) have all represented New Zealand at kayaking and canoeing and leave for another international adventure in Europe next month.
Their training is demanding in itself but they have to add in their studies at the University of Otago as well.
Bryden and Ella are medical students and Jane is a first-year health science student.
"We definitely have to work on our time management skills," Ella said.
Her busy day usually starts with a gymnasium session at 6am but it varies a bit and on some days their training sessions involve canoe sessions on the Otago Harbour.
"It is getting too cold and dark in the mornings now so we have a session at lunch time and another one after 4pm," Ella said.
"It is hard to balance study and training but we have to do it to keep improving. I have had to cut out my social life this term." Ella and Jane are now coached by Aaron Osborne, a member of the New Zealand slalom team.
"It is more structured than it used to be," Ella said. "It involves flat-water training on the harbour, [and] stroke technique and strength work in the gymnasium. We are concentrating on an endurance and strength block at the moment."
Bryden and Ella have switched allegiance and will represent the Cook Islands at World Cup events at Leipzig in Germany and Slovenia next month. Jane will still represent New Zealand.
Their father was born overseas and they have strong family ties to the Cook Islands.
But the main reason for the switch of countries was to enable the Oceania region to qualify more competitors for next year's Olympics.
"Our switch will help more Australians and New Zealanders win Olympic selection," Ella said.
The World Cup events next month are during the university vacation and the Nicholas siblings will miss only one week of term time.
Ella will return to Europe for the world championships that will be held at the artificial Cunovo course in Bratislava, in Slovenia, in September. It is the first opportunity for her to qualify an Olympic spot for the Oceania region.
At the New Zealand championships on the Tarawera River, Kawerau, last month, Bryden won the under-23 K1 and was runner-up in the C2 with fellow Otago University student Shaun Higgins.
Ella was fourth in the women's K1 and runner-up in the K1 teams event with Jane. She won the silver medal with Bryden in the mixed C 2.
Jane won a bronze medal in the women's under-23 C1.
The Nicholas siblings grew up in Tauranga and represented Bay of Plenty in basketball before beginning their studies in Dunedin.
Their cousin, Ryan Nicholas, has played rugby for Otago, Southland and the Highlanders and is now playing in Japan.
Kayaking v canoeing: The differences
• K stands for kayaking which is performed sitting down with two blades.
• C stands for canoeing which is performed kneeling on one knee, with one blade.
• K1 stands for one kayaker and C2 stands for two canoeists.
